Dragons breathe fire but don't lose their cool

Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic (1), of Slovenia, slips through the defense of Boston Celtics' Gerald Wallace (45) and Jeff Green to get a pass off to a teammate during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Celtics 100-94. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Goran Dragic is the beating heart of the Phoenix Suns. And I love watching this guy play. He has proved his value to this team in terms of how prepared he is to play every game and his production in games. But if he wants to take the next step, and become a king in the locker room, he needs to become a better leader.

Leaders do. And the best of them do AND say, calling out their teammates when need be. Dragic is getting better in terms of developing those qualities but he still does things that leaders don't do: like show a teammate up from time to time, letting everybody know a play gone awry wasn't his fault.

You can't do this and call yourself a leader.

Leaders take blame and carry that burden on their shoulders. They don't point the spiny, ruddy finger of blame at their teammates...and Dragic uses gestures sometimes to let people know it wasn't his fault while competing. And he did it to Channing Frye against Boston.

Channing was trying to get the ball to him and Goran moved over the top of Frye as he passed it and the ball went out of bounds. Dragic threw his hands out as if to say, "What are you doing? That was not me."

Can't do it Goran. Everybody knows what happened. We didnt need an explanation. Even if he did it in frustration, Dragic needs to understand that actions like that divide teams and throw team chemistry into a deep freeze.

The Dragon's fire is great and often melts any cold feelings that form when competing in an NBA locker room, but if he wants to take that next step in leading this team he needs to stop gesturing and start shouldering.